Lubricating device



April 28, 1942. H. R. WELBY LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1940 W C- $444M M AT TORNEY F figs Patented Apr. 28, 1942 LUBRICATING DEVICE Henry R. Welby, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application April 10, 1940, Serial N0. 328,920

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lubricating devices for feeding lubricant, such as oil, to the rail engaging flanges of flanged wheels.

An object of the invention is to provide a feeding means or nozzle to be held against the wheel flange and so constructed that the lubricant will not reach the wheel tread.

Another object is to provide a nozzle which is universally supported so that shifting or other movement of the nozzle supporting means, such as the engine frame, relative to the wheel will not cause displacement of the nozzle from its operative relation to the wheel flange.

Another object is to provide a nozzle which is interchangeable for either right hand or left hand wheels.

Another object is to provide a nozzle in which the lubricant feeding portion which is subject to wear by the wheel tread may be replaced.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, to be taken as a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the feed nozzle;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the nozzle as applied to a wheel flange;

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section through the nozzle head and showing its cooperation with a wheel flange, and

Fig. 4 is a detail view in section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the numeral I designates generally a portion of the frame of alocomotive or other railway rolling stock. Extending from the frame I adjacent a wheel I of which the flange is to be lubricated is a supporting member 2 secured to the frame by studs 3. The member 2 extends upward and either forward or rearward of the wheel axle and is provided with an aperture 4 radially outward of the wheel flange 5. A supporting post or bearing pin 6 is rigidly secured in the aperture 4 by nuts 'I which clamp a flange or shoulder on the post 6 against the member 2. The post 6 receives a substantially U-shaped bracket member 8 having aligned apertures 9 in its side flanges or arms Ill, II and through which the post 5 extends. The base or cross member I2 which joins the arms II], II is positioned radially outward of the post 6 and has elongated slots I3 therethrough extending longitudinally of the wheel axle. The arm II is clamped to the supporting member 2 by a nut and bolt I4 so that the bracket 8 is held against rotation and rigidly in position. Carried by the post 6 is a supporting arm I5 of flat rectangular metal stock having -one end bent or cylindrically formed to provide a sleeve or eye I6 through which the post 6 extends so that the arm I5 is loosely pivoted or journaled for movement in the plane of the wheel. The sleeve I6 is positioned between the arms I0, II such that it is limited thereby in movement longitudinally of the post and is of suiilcient internal diameter so that it is free to rock or cant on the post. Encircling the post 6 at the sides of the sleeve I6 are the spaced turns of a coil spring I! having its connecting midportion I8 overlying and bearing on the arm I5. The free ends I9 of spring H extend through the apertures I3. The bracket 8 thus serves as a stop to hold the spring I! wound under tension so that the spring portion I8 tends to rotate arm I5 clockwise or downward and to hold the nozzle in engagement with the wheel flange. The free end of arm I5 terminates in an offset portion 20, preferably a downward and backward bent hook portion to which the oiler shoe or nozzle head 2| is secured. The nozzle head or oiler shoe 2I comprises a removable and replaceable member which may be formed of a pair of similar rectangular bar members 22, 23, preferably of steel. The shoe 2| is clamped to the portion 20 by a U-shaped member or metal strap 24 which has its end portions threaded and extended through a pair of apertures 25 in a cross member 26. The bar members 22, 23 are provided with a transverse surrounding groove 26 into which the strap 24 flts to hold the members 22, 23 in tight lateral engagement and to prevent slippage or movement of the shoe 2| on the arm I5. Also, the cross member 26 fits within the hook portion 20 so that the shoe 2| is held securely to and is prevented from twisting or other movement on the arm I5. The strap 24 and cross member 26 are pulled up tight against the portion 20 and shoe 2i by nuts 27 threaded on the ends of strap 24. The bar members 22, 23 extend substantially radially to the wheel flange 5 and have their flange engaging ends recessed or grooved, as at 28, 29 respectively, to provide a channel conforming to the rail engaging face of the wheel flange. The bar member 22 which engages the tread side of the flange has a longitudinal lubricant delivering passageway 30 extending therethrough. The passageway 30 which opens through the face of groove portion 28 has therein a spring-pressed check valve 3| which normally tends to hold back the flow of lubricant to the wheel flange but which is opened by pressure of the lubricant fed to the shoe through the conduit 32 from a mechanical oiler or other lubricant pressure source. The bar member 23 is of identical construction to that of member 22 and therefore the primes of the numerals applied to member 22 designate like parts in member 23. Since the passageway 30 is not utilized when it, bears against the outside of the wheel flange, it is closed by a plug 33.

In operation, when the shoe 2! is seated on a wheel flange and lubricant is supplied thereto through the conduit 32, then as the wheel rotates, lubricant will feed through the passageway 30 onto the rail engaging face of the wheel flange 5. The oil supplied to the flange 5 will not flow onto the wheel tread due to the centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the wheel. If the wheel should not run true, the arm l5 can twist from side to side or raise or lower at its inner and outer edges, and further if the wheel has any other displacement relative to the post 6, the arm l5 can move with it, all of which movements are accommodated by the loose fit of the sleeve 16 on the post 6. It will be apparent that when the shoe is worn say to the dotted line 35, such that it would require replacement, then either the complete shoe 2| may be replaced, or if desired and the wear permits, it will be only necessary to supply or renew that portion of the shoe which engages the tread side of the flange and has the active oil delivery passageway. Since the wear of the shoe will occur along the dotted line, designated at 35, of Fig. 3, a flange will be left as indicated by the dotted line 35 on the member 23. The shoe when reconditioned by substitution of a new member 22 will thus be held against lateral inward displacement by the remaining flange of the old bar member 23 engaging the outside face of the wheel flange, the new replacement oil delivery bar member serving to support the shoe on the wheel flange in operative position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a wheel flange oiling device, a sheet metal supporting arm having one end rebent to cylindrical form to provide a journal bearing for mounting said arm, the other end of said member being transversely bent to provide a hook portion having an outer supporting face, a wheel flange lubricating shoe extending transverse to said supporting arm with a side face abutting said supporting face, and a removable clamping means surrounding and securing together said shoe and said hook portion.

HENRY R. WELBY. 

